Antenna

Abstract

An antenna includes an antenna conductor to be provided on an exterior side of a chassis and a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes a first insulating portion that is a portion of a sheet-shaped dielectric where the sheet-shaped dielectric is folded, a grounding conductor provided between the first insulating portion and the chassis, a second insulating portion that is a portion of the sheet-shaped dielectric where the sheet-shaped dielectric is not folded, and a signal line configured to feed power to the antenna conductor. A thickness of the first insulating portion is greater than a thickness of the second insulating portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An antenna comprising:
 an antenna conductor to be provided on an exterior side of a chassis; and 
 a flexible substrate including:
 a first insulating portion that is a portion of a sheet-shaped dielectric where the sheet-shaped dielectric is folded; 
 a grounding conductor provided between the first insulating portion and the chassis; 
 a second insulating portion that is a portion of the sheet-shaped dielectric where the sheet-shaped dielectric is not folded; and 
 a signal line configured to feed power to the antenna conductor, 
 
 wherein a thickness of the first insulating portion is greater than a thickness of the second insulating portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The antenna according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insulating member sandwiched by a portion where the sheet-shaped dielectric is folded, the insulating member increasing a distance from the antenna conductor to the grounding conductor. 
 
     
     
       3. The antenna according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of conductor patterns arranged spaced apart from each other across a portion where the sheet-shaped dielectric is folded. 
 
     
     
       4. The antenna according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of conductor patterns are provided at positions such that the plurality of conductor patterns do not come into contact with each other when the sheet-shaped dielectric is folded. 
     
     
       5. The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal line is a balanced transmission line connected in a loop antenna shape. 
     
     
       6. The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal line is a balanced transmission line including a delay line. 
     
     
       7. The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate has a structure bent into an L shape. 
     
     
       8. The antenna according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal line is a balanced transmission line, and
 the antenna conductor is a dipole antenna connected to a transmission line provided on the flexible substrate via the balanced transmission line. 
 
     
     
       9. The antenna according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a support configured to hold a portion of the flexible substrate bent into an L shape, the portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the chassis, 
 wherein the first insulating portion is formed on an opposite side of the support from the chassis, and 
 the second insulating portion is formed on a same side as the chassis with respect to the support. 
 
     
     
       10. The antenna according to  claim 9 , wherein the support includes a concave portion in a groove shape into which the portion of the flexible substrate extending in the direction substantially perpendicular is inserted. 
     
     
       11. The antenna according to  claim 9 , wherein the support is formed in a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is in contact with the portion of the flexible substrate extending in the direction substantially perpendicular. 
     
     
       12. The antenna according to  claim 2 , wherein, of a plurality of conductor posts constituting a substrate integrated waveguide formed in the flexible substrate, an arrangement interval of two conductor posts arranged across a position of the insulating member that is bent at a corner portion is greater than an arrangement interval of remaining conductor posts. 
     
     
       13. The antenna according to  claim 2 , wherein an end portion of the insulating member in contact with the flexible substrate is formed in a curved shape. 
     
     
       14. The antenna according to  claim 2 , wherein the insulating member is a member having a curved surface or is a member having flexibility to form a curved surface. 
     
     
       15. The antenna according to  claim 2 , wherein the insulating member includes a plurality of types of insulators. 
     
     
       16. The antenna according to  claim 15 , wherein the insulator includes an insulator portion of the chassis.